Sliding window for vehicle, and trim board fixing method

ABSTRACT

A sliding window for a vehicle includes: a sliding panel which is attached to a vehicle body in a slidable manner; a guide rail which is integrated with the vehicle body and extending in the slide direction of the sliding panel; and a sliding bracket which integrally includes a sliding portion slidably coupled to the guide rail and a fixed portion fixed to the sliding panel. The guide rail is provided with a fitting hole into which a clip of a trim board is fitted.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of PCT/JP2014/069163,filed on Jul. 18, 2014.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sliding window for a vehicle andrelates to a trim board fixing method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0047513,there is known a sliding window, which slides laterally to be opened andclosed, is attached to a rear window of a vehicle. In such a slidingwindow, a sliding panel is fitted between a pair of upper and lowerrails extending in parallel, and the sliding panel slides along therails to be opened and closed.

When the sliding panel is opened and closed, for example, if an externalforce is applied to the sliding panel to be inclined with respect to arail, the sliding panel cannot be opened and closed smoothly. For thisreason, a method of regulating the relative position of the slidingpanel with respect to the rail may be considered in a manner such that aguide rail which extends in the slide direction of the sliding panel isprovided and a sliding bracket slidably coupled to the guide rail isconnected to the sliding panel.

However, when the trim board covering the guide rail, etc. is fixed tothe vehicle body, a portion in the vicinity of the end of the trim boardmay not be fixed to the vehicle body due to the guide rail existing inthe periphery of the sliding panel. Thus, the trim board is deformed by,for example, vibration in traveling, and creaking noises are easilygenerated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Here, an object of the invention is to provide a sliding window for avehicle and a trim board fixing method. These can improve a fixingrigidity of a trim board.

A sliding window for a vehicle includes: a sliding panel which isattached to a vehicle body in a slidable manner; a guide rail which isintegrated with the vehicle body and extending in the slide direction ofthe sliding panel; and a sliding bracket which integrally includes asliding portion slidably coupled to the guide rail and a fixed portionfixed to the sliding panel. Then, the guide rail is provided with afitting hole into which a clip of a trim board is fitted.

A trim board fixing method includes fixing a trim board by fitting aclip of the trim board which uses for covering an inner surface of avehicle body including a guide rail attachment position to a fittinghole formed in the guide rail in the periphery of a sliding window forthe vehicle.

According to the embodiment of the invention, since a portion in thevicinity of the end of the trim board is fixed to the guide rail, thefixing rigidity of the trim board is improved. Thus, for example, it ispossible to reduce the creaking noises caused by the vibration intraveling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a vehicle thatemploys a sliding window.

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view illustrating a rear window.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a main part of therear window.

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view illustrating an installationstructure of an electric slide mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view illustrating an electric slidemechanism.

FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view illustrating a sliding bracket.

FIG. 7 is a detailed partially enlarged view illustrating an electricslide mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a detailed perspective view illustrating a cord-holdingbracket.

FIG. 9 is a detailed perspective view illustrating a curled cord fixingmethod.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a slidingpanel of the rear window is opened.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a method of improving the fixing rigidityof a trim board.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a clip attachment portion in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a method of ensuring a rear view of therear window.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments for carrying out the invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a vehicle that employs a slidingwindow.

A pickup truck 100 includes an open type (no lid) pickup bed 120 at therear side of a cabin 110 (a vehicle body). A rear window 200 with asliding window is attached to an opening 112 opened at the rear surfaceof the cabin 110. Here, the opening 112 of the cabin 110 is opened in atrapezoidal shape along the vehicle width direction of the pickup truck100. In addition, the “trapezoidal shape” is not limited to a completetrapezoidal shape, but may be recognized as a trapezoidal shape inappearance. Furthermore, the opening 112 of the cabin 110 is not limitedto the trapezoidal shape, but may be formed in another shape, forexample, a rectangular shape.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the rear window 200 includes a window framemember 210 which is attached to the opening 112 of the cabin 110. Thewindow frame member 210 is a resinous member that extends in the vehiclewidth direction of the pickup truck 100, and the peripheral edge thereofis fixed to the opening 112 of the cabin 110 by, for example, afastening material such as an adhesive or a fitting to a groove.

A guide rail 310 which extends in the slide direction of a sliding panel230 mounted in a slidable manner is integrated with the window framemember 210. As will be described later, a sliding bracket 320 whichintegrally includes a sliding portion slidably coupled to the guide rail310 and a fixed portion fixed to the sliding panel 230, is attached tothe guide rail 310. Then, in order to improve the fixing rigidity of atrim board 116 that covers the inner surface of the cabin 110 includinga position at which the guide rail 310 is attached, the guide rail 310is provided with fitting holes 500 into which clips 510 of the trimboard 116 are fitted. That is, when the clips 510 of the trim board 116are fitted and fixed to the fitting holes 500 formed in the guide rail310, a portion in the vicinity of the end of the trim board 116 is fixedto the guide rail 310 so as to improve the fixing rigidity of the trimboard 116. In addition, the fitting holes 500 are exemplified as thefitting portions.

Details of the sliding window with such a configuration will bedescribed below.

The window frame member 210 includes an opening 212 of which the centeris opened except for the peripheral edge thereof, and a fixed panel 220is attached to both ends of the opening 212 in the longitudinaldirection, that is, both left and right ends of the opening 212. Thefixed panel 220 is formed of, for example, a transparent or translucentglass plate, a resin plate, or a metal plate, and is fixed to the windowframe member 210 with a fastening material such as an adhesive or afitting to a groove. Accordingly, an opening which communicates theinside of the cabin 110 with the outside of the cabin 110 is formedbetween the pair of fixed panels 220 disposed at the left and rightsides of the opening 212 of the window frame member 210. Furthermore,the fixed panel 220 and the window frame member 210 may be molded in onepiece, or the fixed panel 220 may be integrally formed with the windowframe member 210.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a pair of upper and lower rails 240 whichsupports the upper and lower ends of the sliding panel 230 that opensand closes the opening of the rear window 200 so as to be slidable inthe vehicle width direction is integrated with the center portions ofthe upper and lower sides of the window frame member 210 in the vehiclewidth direction. The pair of upper and lower rails 240 has, for example,a cross-section having a channel shape (a U-shape and a C-shape), andthe facing surfaces are open. The rail 240 is made of, for example,metal such as an aluminum alloy, and in order to improve precision ofthe installation position for the window frame member 210, the rail 240is integrated with the window frame member 210 by a resin when the fixedpanel 220 and the window frame member 210 is molded by casting. Thesliding panel 230 is formed by, for example, a transparent ortranslucent glass plate, a resin plate, or a metal plate. In addition,the “channel shape” may be recognized as a channel shape in appearance.

Heating wires 222 and 232 as defrosters are respectively printed on theinner surfaces of the fixed panel 220 and the sliding panel 230, thatis, the surfaces facing the inside of the cabin 110. The heating wires222 and 232 may be integrated with the fixed panel 220 and the slidingpanel 230, respectively, when the fixed panel 220 and the sliding panel230 are manufactured. A connector 224 which supplies electric power tothe heating wire 222 is attached to the lower portion of the fixed panel220. The connector 224 of the fixed panel 220 is connected to a battery(not shown) mounted on the pickup truck 100 through a voltage stabilizerand a relay. Furthermore, a pair of terminals 234 which supplieselectric power to the heating wire 232 is provided at the lower portionof the sliding panel 230.

Here, in a case that the defroster of the rear window 200 is notnecessary, the heating wires 222 and 234 may not be respectively printedon the inner surfaces of the fixed panel 220 and the sliding panel 230.In this case, it is not necessary to provide a structure which supplieselectric power to the heating wires 222 and 234, and more specifically,a curled cord 400 and the like, to be described later.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a pair of left and right first brackets 250 isattached to two separated positions of the lower inner surface of thewindow frame member 210 respectively in order to fix an electric slidemechanism 300 that electrically slides the sliding panel 230. The pairof left and right first brackets 250 is made of, for example, metal suchas an aluminum alloy, and includes a hat-shaped plate member 252 and apin member 254 that extends outward from the tip of the plate member252. Then, the base portion of the plate member 252 of the first bracket250 is fixed to a predetermined position of the window frame member 210,for example, with a fastening material such as an adhesive. Here, the“hat shape” is not limited to a complete hat shape, but it may berecognized as a hat shape in appearance. In addition, the first bracket250 may be integrated with the window frame member 210 by a resin whenthe window frame member 210 is molded by casting.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a second bracket 260 whichregulates the relative position of the sliding panel 230 with respect tothe pair of upper and lower rails 240, is attached to the lower innersurface of the sliding panel 230. The second bracket 260 is made of, forexample, metal such as an aluminum alloy, and includes a plate member262 which has two continuous hat shapes and two pin members 264 thatextend outward from the tip of the plate member 262. Then, the baseportion of the plate member 262 of the second bracket 260 is fixed to apredetermined position of the sliding panel 230, for example, with afastening material such as an adhesive. In addition, the second bracket260 may be integrated with the sliding panel 230 when the sliding panelis manufactured.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the electric slide mechanism 300 which isfixed to the window frame member 210 through the first bracket 250,includes a guide rail 310 which extends in the slide direction of thesliding panel 230 and guides the sliding panel 230 in the slidedirection. The guide rail 310 is made of metal such as an aluminumalloy. Here, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in the entire length of the guiderail 310 in the axial direction, the upper portion thereof is providedwith a circular-arc shaped upper slide groove 312 and the lower portionthereof is provided with a channel-shaped (a C-shaped and a U-shaped)lower slide groove 314. Here, the “circular-arc shape” is not limited toa complete circular-arc shape, but it may be recognized as acircular-arc shape in appearance. Furthermore, a cavity 316 for reducingthe weight is formed at the center of the guide rail 310 in the up anddown direction, and an insertion hole 318 through which the pin member254 of the first bracket 250 is inserted is provided. The upper slidegroove 312 of the guide rail 310 is exemplified as the slide groove.

The sliding bracket 320 is coupled along the upper slide groove 312 ofthe guide rail 310 so as to be slidable in the upper slide groove 312.As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, the sliding bracket 320 includes acylindrical slide member 322 which is formed in a shape similar to thecircular-arc shape of the upper slide groove 312, a first plate member324 which extends upward from the slide member 322 at the upper and rearportion of the slide member 322 and fixes the sliding panel 230, asecond plate member 326, and a block 328. Since the slide member 322 isrotatable only by a predetermined angle about the axial direction of theupper slide groove 312, the tolerance of the precision of theinstallation position of the guide rail 310 and the sliding panel 230 isabsorbed, and hence the sliding panel 230 may be smoothly opened andclosed. A predetermined angle at which the slide member 322 is rotatableis set as a range in which a plate surface of the first plate member 324contacts the opening of the upper slide groove 312. As illustrated inFIG. 6, the first plate member 324 is formed in a T-shape in the sideview, and each of both extension portions thereof is provided with aninsertion hole 324A through which the pin member 264 of the secondbracket 260 is inserted. Here, the “T-shape” is not limited to acomplete T-shape, but it may be recognized as a T-shape in appearance.Furthermore, the slide member 322 is made of, for example, a resinhaving a small friction coefficient in order to slide with respect tothe guide rail 310, and the first plate member 324 is made of, forexample, metal such as an aluminum alloy.

The second plate member 326 of the sliding bracket 320 is formed in anL-shape in the side view, and is disposed on the rear surface of thefirst plate member 324. Here, the “L-shape” is not limited to a completeL-shape, but it may be recognized as an L-shape in appearance. Thesecond plate member 326 is made of, for example, metal such as analuminum alloy, and is formed in an L-shape, that is, the second platemember extends rearward while facing the lower slide groove 314 of theguide rail 310, and then, extends upward from the rear end thereof. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, the second plate member 326 includes a portionwhich is formed in a T-shape similar to the first plate member 324 inthe side view, and each of both extension portions thereof is providedwith an insertion hole 326A through which the pin member 264 of thesecond bracket 260 is inserted. In addition, a portion which extends inthe up and down direction of the second plate member 326 is narrowerthan a portion which extends in the up and down direction of the firstplate member 324, and a step is formed therebetween. The step is used asa gap through which an electrical power supply cord for supplyingelectric power to the heating wire 232 of the sliding panel 230 passesvia a cord-holding bracket 330, which will be described later.

Here, the slide member 322 of the sliding bracket 320 is exemplified asthe sliding portion, and a portion which is fixed to the second bracket260 in the second plate member 326 of the sliding bracket 320 isexemplified as the fixed portion.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, for example, a resin-made block 328which is fitted to the lower slide groove 314 in a slidable manner isattached to a portion which faces the lower slide groove 314 of theguide rail 310 in the second plate member 326 of the sliding bracket320. Accordingly, when the pin member 264 of the second bracket 260 isinserted through the insertion hole 324A of the first plate member 324and the insertion hole 326A of the second plate member 326 in thesliding bracket 320 and is integrated by screwing a fastening materialsuch as a nut to the tip thereof, the guide rail 310 is interposedbetween the first plate member 324 and the second plate member 326 ofthe sliding bracket 320. For this reason, the movement of the slidingbracket 320 on the perpendicular surface of the guide rail 310 isregulated, and hence, the position precision of the sliding panel 230connected to the sliding bracket 320 can be improved.

In other words, two opposite surfaces of the guide rail 310 in a surfaceparallel to the sliding panel 230 are interposed between the first platemember 324 and the second plate member 326 of the sliding bracket 320,and hence, the movement of the sliding bracket 320 on the perpendicularsurface of the guide rail 310 is regulated.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the cord-holding bracket 330which holds the electrical power supply cord at a predetermined positionis attached to the side surface opposite to the guide rail 310 in bothside surfaces of the second plate member 326 of the sliding bracket 320.The cord-holding bracket 330 is made of, for example, a resin such asplastic or metal such as an aluminum alloy.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cord-holding bracket 330 includes abase portion 332 which is a flat plate-like form and serves as anattachment portion to the second plate member 326 of the sliding bracket320, and an extension portion 334 which has a channel-shapedcross-section and extends from the lower end of the base portion 332 inthe axial direction of the guide rail 310. A distal end portion of theextension portion 334 is provided with a cord fixed portion 336 whichfixes the electrical power supply cord. In the upper and lowerdirections of the cord fixed portion 336, a C-shaped guide portion 338which is formed in a C-shape, outwardly protrudes from a surface of thecord fixed portion 336 at the side surface opposite to the base portion332, via the extension portion 334. That is, the C-shaped guide portion338 is integrally held by the base portion 332. Here, the “C-shape” maybe recognized as a C-shape in appearance. Furthermore, in the distal endportion of the extension portion 334, at the side of the C-shaped guideportion 338 which outwardly protrudes, a protruding guide portion 340which outwardly protrudes is integrally formed with the extensionportion 334, and the protruding guide portion 340 is arranged at apredetermined interval from the C-shaped guide portion 338 in adirection of the base portion 332. In addition, the base end of theextension portion 334 is provided with an extension portion 342 whichupwardly extends in an inverted L-shape and has a channel-shaped incross-section.

The sliding bracket 320, which is attached to the guide rail 310,interlockingly moves along the guide rail 310 with a pair of cables 360sliding (traveling in a reciprocating manner) by a drive unit 350including an electric motor provided therein. Here, the drive unit 350may include a speed reducer that reduces the output rotation of theelectric motor. Furthermore, the cable 360 includes a cylindrical outercable and an inner cable which slides inside the outer cable. Then, eachof the distal ends of the inner cables of the pair of cables 360 areconnected to the slide member 322 of the sliding bracket 320. Inaddition, the drive unit 350 is attached to a rear panel (notillustrated) of the cabin 110 of the pickup truck 100.

A joint 370 having a function which changes the slide direction of theinner cable of the cable 360 is fixed to each of both ends of the guiderail 310. A base end of a spiral portion (a curled shape portion) of thecurled cord 400 which is extensible in one direction so as to supplyelectric power to the heating wire 232 of the sliding panel 230 throughthe sliding bracket 320 is fixed to the joint 370 fixed to one end ofthe guide rail 310. The base end of the spiral portion of the curledcord 400 is connected to the battery mounted on the pickup truck 100,for example, through a power source harness 405 provided with a voltagestabilizer and a relay. In addition, the curled cord 400 is exemplifiedas the electrical power supply cord which is extensible in onedirection. Furthermore, the spiral portion of the curled cord 400 isexemplified as the extensible portion. Moreover, the joint 370 isexemplified as the direction changing member.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the curled cord 400 is disposed in a spacewhich is located below the guide rail 310 and is interposed between aninner panel 114 that constitutes the rear panel of the cabin 110 and atrim board 116. Then, in order to regulate the arrangement position ofthe curled cord 400, a holding pipe 410 which extends along the guiderail 310 is inserted into the spiral portion of the curled cord 400.Both ends of the holding pipe 410 are fixed to the joints 370 fixed toboth ends of the guide rail 310, and are integrated with the guide rail310. That is, both ends of the holding pipe 410 are fixed to the facingportions of the pair of left and right joints 370 in order to ensure theextensible moving space of the curled cord 400.

Accordingly, the curled cord 400 is disposed along the guide rail 310. naddition, the holding pipe 410 is exemplified as the holding member thatmaintains the position of the curled cord 400. Here, the holding memberis not limited to the pipe-shaped holding pipe 410. For example, anothermember having any shape that holds the curled cord 400 so as not todisturb the extensible moving of the curled corded 400 in response tothe slide of the sliding panel 230 may be employed.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the free end of the curled cord 400 positionedafter the spiral portion is guided to the step position between thefirst plate member 324 and the second plate member 326 along theextension portion 334 of the cord-holding bracket 330 integrated withthe sliding bracket 320, and is guided upward along the extensionportion 342 of the cord-holding bracket 330. Here, an exterior material420 of the free end of the curled cord 400 is peeled off as a lead wire430 so as to be accommodated in the extension portions 334 and 342 ofthe cord-holding bracket 330. Then, the free end of the curled cord 400is connected to the terminal 234 of the sliding panel 230. At thisstage, in order to reliably fix the curled cord 400 to the cord-holdingbracket 330, the distal end (one end) of the spiral portion of thecurled cord 400 is fixed to the cord fixed portion 336 of thecord-holding bracket 330 by a fixing member such as a banding band.

Here, a detail of a method of fixing the curled cord 400 will bedescribed.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the base end of the spiral portion of thecurled cord 400 straddles the joint 370 while the base end of the spiralportion is drawn and extended, and is fixed to the joint 370 through abanding band 344 inserted through a band insertion hole (not shown)formed in the outer surface of the joint 370. That is, the base end ofthe spiral portion of the curled cord 400 is crimped and held to thejoint 370 by the elastic restoration force of the spiral portion so asto be fixed to the joint 370 while the curled shape of the spiralportion is maintained. Here, the banding band 344 which fixes the curledcord 400 to the joint 370 may be inclined so as to follow the curledshape of the curled cord 400. For this reason, even when the curled cord400 is extended and contracted, a load displacement in the twisteddirection caused by the extendable moving is absorbed by the spiralportion straddling the joint 370 before the load displacement reachesthe banding band 344, and hence the concentration of stress at the baseend of the spiral portion of the curled cord 400 can be reduced.Accordingly, it is possible to increase the durability and thereliability of the base end of the spiral portion of the curled cord400. The base end of the spiral portion of the curled cord 400 may befixed to the joint 370 directly or through a known fixing member or afixing member locked to a locking protrusion protruding from the joint370 in a cantilevered state, instead of the banding band 344.Furthermore, the base end of the spiral portion of the curled cord 400may be fixed to a panel that constitutes the cabin 110 of the pickuptruck 100, etc. instead of the joint 370.

The distal end of the spiral portion of the curled cord 400 is straddledwhile being drawn and extended between the protruding guide portion 340and the C-shaped guide portion 338 of the cord-holding bracket 330, andis fixed to the cord-holding bracket 330 through a binding band 346inserted through a band insertion hole (not shown) formed in the cordfixed portion 336. That is, the distal end of the spiral portion of thecurled cord 400 is crimpled and held to the cord-holding bracket 330 bythe elastic restoration force of the spiral portion. For this reason, itis possible to increase the durability and the reliability of the distalend of the spiral portion, similar to those of the base end of thespiral portion of the curled cord 400. The distal end of the spiralportion of the curled cord 400 may be fixed to the cord-holding bracket330 directly or through an existing fixing member or a fixing memberlocked to a locking protrusion protruding from the cord-holding bracket330 in a cantilevered state instead of the binding band 346.Furthermore, the distal end of the spiral portion of the curled cord 400may be directly fixed to the sliding bracket 320.

The exterior material 420 of the curled cord 400 positioned after thecord fixed portion 336 of the cord-holding bracket 330 is peeled off, sothat the lead wire 430 is exposed. The lead wire 430 is disposed alongthe extension portions 334 and 342 of the cord-holding bracket 330. Forthis reason, engaging protrusions 348 which engages with each other withthe lead wire 430 interposed therebetween is disposed in the arrangementdirection of the lead wire 430 in the extension portions 334 and 342 ofthe cord-holding bracket 330. In this way, for example, even whenvibration generated by the traveling of the pickup truck 100 istransmitted to the curled cord 400, the lead wire 430 which is exposedby peeling off the exterior material 420 does not contact a memberdisposed in the periphery thereof, and hence, the durability or the likecan be improved.

In this state, the exterior material 420 is peeled off in a part of thecurled cord 400, so that the lead wire 430 is exposed, and thus, thecurled cord 400 can be disposed in a narrow space by using the stepbetween the first plate member 324 and the second plate member 326 ofthe sliding bracket 320.

Accordingly, the spiral portion of the curled cord 400 is extended andcontracted in response to the slide of the sliding bracket 320 withrespect to the guide rail 310. For this reason, the spiral portion ofthe curled cord 400 may have at least a length in which the spiralportion can be extended and contracted between the fully opened positionof the sliding panel 230 and the fully closed position of the slidingpanel 230.

Meanwhile, an extension cord 440 which serves as a flexible extensionportion is connected to or integrated with the base end of the spiralportion of the curled cord 400, and the distal end thereof is connectedto an electrical power supply portion such as a battery provided in thecabin 110. In this way, since the electrical power supply portion andthe curled cord 400 fixed to the joint 370 are different portions, anexternal force caused by the extending and contracting of the curledcord 400 is not easily and directly applied to the connecting positionfor the electrical power supply portion when the curled cord 400 isextended and contracted, and thus, the separation of the curled cord 400from the electrical power supply portion can be suppressed.

Next, an operation of opening and closing the sliding window will bedescribed.

For example, when a driver of the pickup truck 100 operates a switch inorder to open and close the sliding panel 230 of the rear window 200,the drive unit 350 is operated in response to the switch operationstate. When the drive unit 350 is operated, the inner cable which isinserted into the outer cable of the cable 360 is slid, and the driveforce is transmitted to the slide member 322 of the sliding bracket 320while the slide direction of the inner cable is changed by the joint370. Then, the sliding bracket 320 slides with respect to the guide rail310, and for example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the sliding panel 230integrated with the sliding bracket 320 is opened.

In this state, since a part of the block 328 attached to the secondplate member 326 of the sliding bracket 320 is fitted to the lower slidegroove 314 of the guide rail 310, the movement of the sliding bracket320 on the perpendicular surface of the guide rail 310 is regulated. Forthis reason, the positional precision of the sliding panel 230 withrespect to the rail 240 is improved, and hence, the sliding panel 230can be smoothly opened and closed.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 10, since the curled cord 400which supplies electric power to the heating wire 232 of the slidingpanel 230 is extended and contracted in response to the opening andclosing of the sliding panel 230, it is possible to supply electricpower to the heating wire 232 at all times regardless of the opening andclosing state of the sliding panel 230. For this reason, it is possibleto remove the frost of the sliding panel 230 by operating the defrostereven when the sliding panel 230 is open, and hence ensure the rear view.

Since the curled cord 400 is extended and contracted in one direction,the space which is occupied by the electrical power supply cord thatsupplies electric power to the heating wire 232 of the sliding panel 230decreases. For example, the electrical power supply cord may be providedbetween the rear panel and the trim board. For this reason, it ispossible to facilitate the vehicle layout.

In this stage, since the holding pipe 410 is inserted into the spiralportion of the curled cord 400, the arrangement position of the curledcord 400 with respect to the guide rail 310 can be substantiallymaintained in a uniform state even when the curled cord 400 is extendedand contracted. For this reason, the contact of the curled cord 400 withrespect to another member is suppressed. Thus, for example, noise ordamage caused by a contact can be reduced. Furthermore, since the curledcord 400 is extended and contracted in response to the movement of thesliding bracket 320 and is integrated with the guide rail 310, thecurled cord 400 can be stably extended and contracted.

The power supply apparatus which supplies electric power to the heatingwire 232 of the sliding panel 230 includes the guide rail 310, thesliding bracket 320, and the curled cord 400 among the above-describedcomponents. However, the power supply apparatus may also include acomponent other than the guide rail 310, the sliding bracket 320, andthe curled cord 400 in order to exhibit a superior function.

Incidentally, since the slide mechanism such as the guide rail 310 andthe sliding bracket 320 exists in an inner space as illustrated in FIG.3, the trim board 116 which constitutes the interior of the cabin 110 isfixed to the rear panel by the clip attached to the lower portion of theguide rail 310. In this case, since a portion in the vicinity of theupper end of the trim board 116 is not fixed, the trim board 116 isdeformed by the vibration in traveling or the like, and hence, forexample, creaking noises may be easily generated.

Here, in order to improve the fixing rigidity of the trim board 116 withrespect to the rear panel, a plurality of (for example, four) clipfitting holes 500 may be formed on the side surface of the guide rail310 and a plurality of resinous clips 510 may be attached to the innersurface of the trim board 116 so that the clips 510 are fitted to thefitting holes 500 as illustrated in FIG. 11. n this way, since a portionin the vicinity of the upper end of the trim board 116 is fixed to theguide rail 310 by the clips 510, the fixing rigidity of the trim board116 can be improved. Then, it is possible to suppress the creakingnoises caused by vibration in traveling or the like by improving thefixing rigidity of the trim board 116.

Details of a method of fixing the trim board 116 will be describedbelow.

Between the upper slide groove 312 and the lower slide groove 314, thefitting holes 500 of the guide rail 310 are formed so as to penetratethe inner side surface facing the inside of the cabin 110 and the outerside surface facing the outside thereof. Accordingly, the fitting holes500 penetrate the cavity 316 of the guide rail 310. In addition, thefitting holes 500 of the guide rail 310 are formed at a position with adimension that does not decrease the rigidity of the upper slide groove312 and the lower slide groove 314. As will be described later, thecavity 316 is provided with a concave portion 319 which ensures apredetermined gap between a regulation portion 540 and the inner wall ofthe upper portion of the cavity 316 so as to exert a function ofpreventing the separation of the regulation portion 540 of the clip 510when the clip 510 is fitted into the fitting hole 500. The concaveportion 319 is formed at the upper corner of the fitting hole 500 of thecavity 316 so that the upper slide groove 312 of the guide rail 310 hasa rigidity at which the sliding bracket 320 can slide.

In order to regulate the movement of the clip 510 in a direction inwhich the clip 510 is separated from the fitting hole 500 of the guiderail 310, for example, when the clip 510 is inserted into the fittinghole 500, the annular regulation portion 540 which outwardly protrudesfrom the peripheral wall of the clip 510 is integrated with the distalend of the clip 510. Accordingly, in a state in which the clip 510 isinserted and fitted to the fitting hole 500 of the guide rail 310, theclip 510 is accommodated in the cavity 316 and the regulation portion540 is accommodated in the concave portion 319 while having apredetermined gap with respect to the inner wall of the concave portion319, and thus, the trim board 116 is fixed to the guide rail 310. Then,for example, even when an external force is exerted in a direction inwhich the clip 510 is separated from the fitting hole 500 by thevibration of the vehicle or the like, a part of the regulation portion540 contacts the inner surface of the guide rail 310 that defines thecavity 316, and hence, the separation of the clip 510 is suppressed.

Furthermore, since the regulation portion 540 has a predetermined gapwith respect to the surface near the upper slide groove 312 in thecavity 316, the regulation portion 540 can outwardly protrude so as toexhibit the separation preventing function after the clip 510 isinserted and fitted into the fitting hole 500. For this reason, aregulation portion accommodating portion 317 of the cavity 316 cancontact the regulation portion 540, and hence, the separation preventingfunction can be exhibited sufficiently. Furthermore, even when the upperportion of the cavity 316 is provided with the upper slide groove 312,the regulation portion 540 can be accommodated in the concave portion319 without decreasing the rigidity of the upper slide groove 312 andincreasing the dimension of the guide rail 310 in the up and downdirection. Furthermore, even when the vibration from the sliding panel230 is transmitted to the guide rail 310 through the sliding bracket320, the movement of the sliding bracket 320 on the perpendicularsurface of the guide rail 310 is regulated by the first plate member 324and the second plate member 326 of the sliding bracket 320. For thisreason, it is possible to suppress the vibration of the sliding panel230 from being transmitted to the trim board 116 through the clip 510.

The joint 370 which is fixed to both ends of the guide rail 310 maycontact a guide portion (not illustrated) formed in the inner surface ofthe trim board 116 when the trim board 116 is fixed to the guide rail310, and may also have a function of regulating the installationposition of the trim board 116. Specifically, the side surface of thejoint 370 facing the lateral side of the cabin 110 is provided with acontact surface 372 which contacts the guide portion formed in the innersurface of the trim board 116 when the trim board 116 is fixed to theguide rail 310, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The contact surface 372 may beformed in a shape similar to the inner surface of the trim board 116,for example, a shape having an inclined surface, or the like.Furthermore, in order to regulate the relative displacement with respectto the trim board 116, the contact surface 372 may be provided withunevenness or the like, for example. In addition, the joint 370including the contact surface 372 is exemplified as the positionregulating member.

Accordingly, when the trim board 116 is fixed to the guide rail 310, theinner surface of the trim board 116 contacts the contact surface 372 ofthe joint 370, so that the trim board 116 is guided to the installationposition. For this reason, the position of the clip 510 is regulated toan appropriate installation position. Then, since the trim board 116 isattached to an appropriate position, for example, creaking noises can beeffectively suppressed. Furthermore, since the relative positions of theinner panel 114 and the trim board 116 are maintained, it is possible tostably ensure a space that accommodates the slide mechanism for slidingthe sliding panel 230.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the clip 510 may include theregulation portion 540 which is provided at a position closer to thebase end of the clip 510 than the distal end thereof in order to fix thetrim board 116 to the guide rail 310. In this way, when the regulationportion 540 engages with the guide rail 310, it is possible to suppressthe clip 510 from being separated from the guide rail 310 and to stablyfix the trim board 116 to the guide rail 310.

Furthermore, the cavity 316 includes the regulation portionaccommodating portion 317 which accommodates the regulation portion 540of the clip 510. The regulation portion accommodating portion 317includes the concave portion 319 which is provided at a positionadjacent to the upper slide groove 312 of the guide rail 310. Theconcave portion 319 is formed at a position which is located under theupper slide groove 312 and is offset toward a position closer to theinsertion side of the clip 510 in the fitting hole 500 than a positionunder the center axis of the upper slide groove 312 in the verticaldirection so that the concave portion 319 has a predetermined distancewith respect to the regulation portion 540 in order to exert a functionof preventing the separation of the regulation portion 540 of the clip510 when the clip 510 is fitted to the fitting hole 500. Since theconcave portion 319 is formed at such a position, a positionrelationship can be set in which the upper slide groove 312 and thecavity 316 are further close to each other. Thus, the clip 510 can beattached to the guide rail 310 without increasing the dimension of theguide rail 310 in the up and down direction.

The regulation portion accommodating portion 317 and the concave portion319 are formed in the cavity 316 so that the upper slide groove 312 hasa rigidity at which the sliding bracket 320 is slidably held. In theembodiment, the upper portion of the cavity 316 is curved in a shapesimilar to the circular-arc shape of the bottom surface of the upperslide groove 312. For this reason, it is possible to ensure the rigidityof the upper slide groove 312 without increasing the dimension of theguide rail 310 in the up and down direction.

Since the second bracket 260 and the sliding bracket 320 and the likeare attached to the lower portion of the sliding panel 230 of the rearwindow 200, the appearance thereof is degraded. For this reason, thelower portion of the sliding panel 230 may be covered by a cover such asa trim board in order to ensure the appearance of the interior of thepickup truck 100.

When the cover is attached in the entire length of the rear window 200in the longitudinal direction, the lower portion of the fixed panel 220is also covered, and hence a part of the rear view is hidden. Here, asillustrated in FIG. 13, the rear view can be ensured in a manner suchthat a first cover 520 extending in the entire length of the slidingpanel 230 in the slide direction is attached to the lower portion of thesliding panel 230 and a second cover 530 only covering the connector 224is attached to the lower portion of the fixed panel 220. Here, in theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, the second cover 530 is not attachedto the fixed panel 220 which is located at the right side in FIG. 13,but the second cover 530 is actually attached thereto. In addition, in acase in which the connector 224 of the fixed panel 220 is covered by thetrim board of the cabin 110, the second cover 530 may not be attached tothe fixed panel 220.

Regarding the above-described embodiment, various existing electricalpower supply cords which are extended and contracted in one directionmay be used instead of the curled cord 400 in order to supply electricpower to the heating wire 232 of the sliding panel 230.

It is not limited that the sliding window according to the embodiment beopened and closed electrically, and it may be opened and closedmanually. In this case, the drive unit 350 and the cable 360 are notneeded in the rear window 200 illustrated in FIG. 2. In addition, sincethe other operations and effects are similar to those of theabove-described embodiment except that the sliding panel 230 is notopened and closed electrically, the description thereof will be omittedin order to avoid duplication of explanation.

Furthermore, the sliding window according to the embodiment is notlimited to a structure including two fixed panels 220 and one slidingpanel 230 as in the rear window 200 illustrated in FIG. 2, and it mayalso be applied to a structure in which the fixed panel 220 is attachedto at least one side of the sliding panel 230 in the slide direction.

The sliding window according to the embodiment is not limited to therear window 200 of the pickup truck 100, and it may also be applied to aside window which extends in the front to rear direction of any vehicle,or to a sun roof of any vehicle for opening and closing the roof.Furthermore, it is not limited that the sliding window according to theembodiment be opened in the left and right (lateral) direction, and itmay be opened and closed in the up and down direction.

The sliding window according to the embodiment may be directly attachedto the vehicle body without using the window frame member 210. In thiscase, for example, a configuration may be employed in which the pair ofrails 240 is attached to the cabin 110 of the pickup truck 100 and thesliding panel 230 is fitted thereto in a slidable manner.

In addition, the configurations of the embodiment may be individuallyimplemented in accordance with the purpose thereof.

It should be noted that the entire contents of Japanese PatentApplication No. 2013-163905, filed on Aug. 7, 2013, on which conventionpriority is claimed, is incorporated herein by reference.

It should also be understood that many modifications and variations ofthe described embodiments of the invention will be apparent to a personhaving an ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention as claimed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sliding window for a vehicle, comprising: asliding panel attached to a vehicle body in a slidable manner; a guiderail integrated with the vehicle body and extending in the slidedirection of the sliding panel; and a sliding bracket integrallyincluding a sliding portion slidably coupled to the guide rail and afixed portion fixed to the sliding panel, wherein the guide rail isprovided with a fitting hole into which a clip of a trim board isfitted.
 2. The sliding window for a vehicle, according to claim 1,wherein two opposite surfaces of the guide rail in a plane parallel tothe sliding panel are interposed between two surfaces of the slidingbracket.
 3. The sliding window for a vehicle according to claim 1,wherein the sliding panel is slidably attached to a window frame memberfixed to an opening of the vehicle body.
 4. The sliding window for avehicle according to claim 1, wherein the sliding panel slideselectrically.
 5. A fixing method of trim board comprising fixing a trimboard by fitting a clip of the trim board which uses for covering aninner surface of a vehicle body including a guide rail attachmentposition to a fitting hole formed on a guide rail in a periphery of asliding window for a vehicle, wherein the sliding window includes: asliding panel slidably attached to the vehicle body; the guide railintegrated with the vehicle body and extending in the slide direction ofthe sliding panel; and a sliding bracket integrally including a slidingportion slidably coupled to the guide rail and a fixed portion fixed tothe sliding panel.
 6. A sliding window for a vehicle, comprising: asliding panel attached to a vehicle body in a slidable manner; a guiderail integrated with the vehicle body and extending in the slidedirection of the sliding panel and includes a slide groove provided inthe slide direction; and a sliding bracket integrally including asliding portion slidably fitted to the slide groove of the guide railand a fixed portion fixed to the sliding panel, wherein a fittingportion into which the clip of the trim board is inserted and fitted isformed in a portion adjacent to the slide groove of the guide rail, theclip is provided with a regulation portion which regulates the movementof the clip in a direction in which the clip is separated from thefitting portion, the fitting portion is provided with a concave portionwhich accommodates the regulation portion of the clip, and in fittingthe clip of the trim board to the fitting portion of the guide rail, theconcave portion accommodates the regulation portion so as to fix thetrim board to the guide rail.
 7. A sliding window for a vehicle,comprising: a sliding panel slidably attached to a vehicle body; a guiderail integrated with the vehicle body and extending in the slidedirection of the sliding panel and includes a slide groove in the slidedirection; and a sliding bracket integrally including a sliding portionslidably fitted to the slide groove of the guide rail and a fixedportion fixed to the sliding panel, wherein the guide rail is providedwith a fitting portion into which the clip of the trim board is insertedand fitted, and a position regulating member that regulates the positionof the trim board is attached to both ends of the guide rail in thelongitudinal direction.
 8. The sliding window for a vehicle, accordingto claim 7, the sliding window further comprising: an electrical powersupply cord which includes an extensible portion extending andcontracting in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail so as tofollow the slide of the sliding bracket, wherein a distal end of theextensible portion of the electrical power supply cord is fixed to thesliding bracket and a base end of the extensible portion of theelectrical power supply cord is fixed to one side of the positionregulating member.
 9. The sliding window for a vehicle, according toclaim 8, wherein the distal end of the extensible portion of theelectrical power supply cord is fixed to the sliding bracket through acord-holding bracket which holds the electrical power supply cord at apredetermined position, the cord-holding bracket being attached to thesliding bracket.
 10. The sliding window for a vehicle, according toclaim 8, the sliding window further comprising a holding pipe whichholds the electrical power supply cord at a predetermined position,wherein the holding pipe extends in the longitudinal direction of theguide rail below the guide rail, and each end of the holding pipe isfixed to a portion facing the position regulating member.
 11. Thesliding window for a vehicle, according to claim 10, wherein theelectrical power supply cord is fixed to a portion opposite to the fixedportion of the holding pipe in the position regulating member to whichthe base end of the extensible portion of the electrical power supplycord is fixed.
 12. The sliding window for a vehicle, according to claim11, wherein the electrical power supply cord is a curled cord which isextensible and contractible by a curled shape, and the base end of theextensible portion of the curled cord is fixed to the positionregulating member so that the curled shape is maintained.
 13. Thesliding window for a vehicle, according to claim 12, wherein a fixingmember that fixes the curled cord to the position regulating member isinclined so as to follow the curled shape of the curled cord.
 14. Thesliding window for a vehicle, according to claim 13, wherein the curledcord includes a flexible extension portion which extends from the baseend of the extensible portion, and an end opposite to the extensibleportion in the extension portion is connected to an electrical powersupply portion provided in the vehicle body.
 15. The sliding window fora vehicle, according to claim 7, further comprising: a drive unit; adirection changing member that is provided at both ends of the guiderail in the longitudinal direction; and a cable which transmits a driveforce of the drive unit to the sliding bracket while one end is fixed tothe drive unit and the other end is fixed to the sliding bracket throughthe direction changing member, wherein the direction changing member isintegrated with the position regulating member.